- No winners for George Weaver at Saratoga on Wednesday, but two second place finishes with horses moving significantly up in class ain't too shabby! Trainer David Jacobsen has noticed, and claimed Clay County for 25K from the first.
Bill Mott continued his run of futility with first-timers when Zensational finished 4th at 2-1 in the 7th. Asmussen got the win, his first in five attempts in the 2yo first-time starter category, with Kensei ($17), but Pletcher nabbed the runner-up spot with Speed Limit, and there's no question that the Toddster is firing live ammo with his two-year olds this meeting. He now has a record of 11-3-3-0 with first-out juvies.
Two winners for Barclay Tagg, including a state-bred stakes win here on state-bred stakes week with Doc N Roll (Wheelaway). The Tomlinson turf figures are considered a reliable barometer of a horse's grass abilities, but, like everything in this sport, they are not without exceptions. This colt, despite an anemic figure of 191, has shown some serious turf ability since making the surface switch in April.
- Sorrento winner Evita Argentina is by the first-year stallion Candy Ride, propelled by the win to the number two spot on the rookie sire list. Evita Argentina is out of Jealous Wildcat, out of Jealous Sword, out of Jealous Appeal (a half to stakes horses Jealous Crusader and Jealous Forum [and graded winner and current stallion Trippi]), out of Jealous Cat.
- Big Brown's connections have a legit excuse to skip the Travers, but the "it's not enough time between races" doesn't quite ring true regarding the Woodward. I'm squarely in the camp that his Haskell win was totally legit as an impressive display of ability and persistence. But four weeks seems like plenty of time for a three-year old horse of his ability to bounce back from the effort. Not like he had to run down Seattle Slew or anything. They're ducking Curlin, pure and simple.
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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Thursday Morning Notes - Aug 7
Posted by Alan Mann at 7:33 AM
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4 Comments:
If the Woodward matchup isn't a no-go, and the JCGP is likely too soon for Curlin after that, then what of the MassCap?
Suffolk already expressed a deep desire to have both in the ungraded race with an enriched purse. Suffolk Downs always treated top runners for the MassCap like royalty which should appeal to both ego driven camps.
If it's not about the race being graded but rather on the dirt, not a sprint, and for a large check then I think Sept. 20 in Boston works for all - without excuses.
Why wasn't the Yaddo carded for Saturday?
it did not fill they are bringing it back on Sun
Easy Goer and Alydar, had the twin spin: Whitney and Travers wins in the same year, 3 weeks apart. IEAH and Dutrow are big whiners looking to finesse their 3 YO title by taking soft spot wins. NY Post Ray Kerrison's comment on the Haskell: "Big Brown beat a second class field and was life and death to do it."
Sort of the penny stock, "pump and dump" approach to Eclipse Awards- ya pump it up big and then hope nobody catches on before you have the big prize- and your syndication fee- in hand. You say IEAH is ducking Curlin in the Woodward; they are also ducking the Travers and the very good chance they will be beaten there by one of the lesser lights.
We're sick of all the slick maneuvering; will the racing media stay fooled by IEAH just as the national media has been fooled (so far) by Obama's handlers? I'm hoping for a late blooming 3 YO star to emerge from the Travers, reel off 3 more Grade I wins in a row, and take the Eclipse going away. /S/Green Mtn Punter
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